Posts Tagged ‘worldly greed’

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you again. ~ Matthew 7:1-2

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. ~ Matthew 6:34

It is more blessed to give than to receive. ~ Acts 20:35

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ~I Corinthians 15:26

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. ~ Colossians 4:6

And above all things have fervent (intense passion for) charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ~ Peter 4:8

Go to the ant, you sluggard(lazy); consider her ways, and be wise. ~ Proverbs 6:6

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” ~ Matthew 6:24

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. ~ Hebrews 13:5

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” ~ Luke 11:9-10

…God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ~ 1 Cor. 10:13

Verses probably speaking about Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ~ John 14:26

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ~ John 16:13

Wealth or Worldly possessions cannot guarantee happiness

Recall a time in your life when you wanted something very badly. Did you get it? If yes, did that give you complete satisfaction? Did you not want anything more after that? And you will learn that we have no limit to worldly desires. That’s our nature. That is how humans are. As God says in that Quran..

“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but God has the excellent return (Paradise) with Him” (Chapter 3, Verse 14)

And as we learn from hadith..

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle said, “If Adam’s son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him.” (Volume 8, Book 76, Number 447)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle said, “The son of Adam (i.e. man) grows old and so also two (desires) grow old with him, i.e., love for wealth and (a wish for) a long life.” (Abu Dawud, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 430)

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Riches does not mean, having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment.” (Abu Dawud, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 453)

The value of Time & Health

As we work hard all our life trying to achieve our dreams, there is something that we lose – that is time and health. Both of these are even greater blessings than money. If you take a moment, analyze yourselves and calculate how much time you spend daily on different activities, you will find that there is lot of time wasted on useless things. Spend time just like you spend your money. Imagine this, if the world’s richest man had only 1 hour more to live, would he be still happy rejoicing in his wealth? His wealth would have no value for him.

An interesting saying of the prophet related to this.

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The Prophet said, “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good.” (Abu Dawud, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 421)

A small chapter of Quran “At-takathur” which basically talks about how people spend their whole lives gaining wealth, worldly pleasures, position, power that they were unmindful of God and have no time to do good deeds. They take pride over their wealth and boast about it. They remain in this “rat-race” all their life until they reach their graves.

The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things), Until you visit the graves. But no, you soon shall know (the reality). Again, you soon shall know! No, were you to know with certainty of mind, (You would beware!) Ye shall certainly see Hell Fire! Again, you shall see it with certainty of sight! Then shall you be Questioned that Day about the joy (you indulged in)! (Quran, Chapter 102, Verses 1-8)

So what do we do?

This doesn’t mean that we stop earning money and hate every material thing around us. We still need to work and earn a living to survive. But we should not be so lost in earning, and competing one another that we have no time to spend doing acts of charity and kindness, no time to spend with our family, relatives and no time to remember God. We have to realize the difference between what is necessary and what is unnecessary. Moderation is the prophetic way and moderation has to be followed in every aspect including earning and spending.